Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Although drowning is primarily an off-the-job hazard, workers are sometimes at risk on the job as well. Here are some common hazards employers should be aware of in order to prevent drownings. One thing employers may not realize is that workers who are not supposed to be in the water at all could be at […]
According to the EPA, while information on sources and causes of releases show that releases from tanks are less common than they once were, releases from piping and spills and overfills associated with deliveries have emerged as more common problems. The Agency attributes the lack of proper operation and maintenance of UST systems as a […]
A refrigerant formulator was recently fined $300,000 by the EPA and the Department of Justice for violations of SNAP regulations. First, let’s look at what the pertinent regulations say, then at what the company allegedly did, and finally what the fix will be. Note: Under SNAP, a “producer” is any person who manufactures, formulates, or […]
In warm weather, increasing numbers of divers suit up to perform underwater operations. Diving has its own set of hazards and safety rules, but employers who utilize divers need to be aware that other hazards may exist besides those inherent in the diving operation itself. That’s what Liquivision Technology found out when the employer contracted […]
Many refrigerants have been determined to be ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and have been targeted for phaseout under the Montreal Protocol. Chemicals used in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning industrial sector is one group for which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reviewed and identified substitutes under the Clean Air Act’s (CAA) Significant New Alternatives Policy […]
Fireworks injuries are on the rise, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In 2013, injuries hit a 10-year high, with eight deaths and an estimated 11,400 consumers who sustained injuries related to fireworks. Most of the injuries were caused by device malfunction and improper use. Warn your workers this Fourth of July […]
Americans will spend more than $2 billion on cookouts this July 4 holiday and will eat more than 150 million hot dogs. And they’ll cook those hot dogs on an assortment of gas, propane, and charcoal grills, which means—if they’re not careful—they could be playing with more fire than they mean to. There are nearly […]
It seemed like a good idea at the time: Reward workers for working safely by providing cash and goods that they could earn as incentives. Even better, put peer pressure to good use by rewarding workers in groups; workers, wanting their premiums, would encourage one another not to cut safety corners and to stay safe. […]
When you’re trying to motivate workers, it makes perfect sense to use both carrots and sticks—right? Unfortunately, when it comes to safety, the most obvious “carrot”—an incentive program that rewards workers for working safely—can easily go wrong. For example, rewarding a team of workers for not having any reportable accidents can result in the workers […]
As we mentioned in yesterday’s Advisor, the EPA is considering adding nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) to the TRI list. At this point, that addition is not yet proposed. Here’s a look at the chemicals that the EPA has actually proposed for TRI listing. 1-Bromopropane (CAS 106-94-5) Last April, the EPA proposed that 1-bromopropane be added to […]